Foto Fridays – Irish Hunger Museum circa June 2011

Tags

Atlanta, Battery Park, Battery Park City Parks, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brian Tolle, California, Cottage, Foto Fridays, Gail Wittwer-La, Georgia, Great Irish Famine, Ireland, Irish Hunger Memorial, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia Walker, Memorial, New York, New York City, Ruins, Sacramento, World Trade Center

  
The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – 9/11 – Jay-Z feat Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Tags

2009, 5× Platinum, 9/11, Actress, Al Shux, Alexander Shuckburgh, Alicia Augello Cook, Alicia Keys, Angela Hunte, Arista, Atlantic, Biggie, Biggie Smalls, Billboard, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Nets, Burt Keyes, Columbia, Def Jam, Empire State Of Mind, entrepreneur, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Instagram, iPhone, iPhone 5, iPhone Post, J, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic, Jeff Bhasker, Jermone Harmon, Kanye West, Key Yemaya Walker, keyboards, Lexus, Mary J. Blige, McDonalds, music, musician, New York, New York City, New York Knicks, No I.D., Notorious B.I.G, Oven Studios, pianist, piano, Platinum, pop, R&B, Rapper, RCA, record producer, Robert Deniro, Roc Nation, Roc the Mic Studios, Roc-A-Fella, Shawn Carter, Shawn Corey Carter, Singer-songwriter, Soul, Spike Lee, Swizz Beatz, Sylvia Robinson, The Blueprint 3, The Inkredibles, The Neptunes, The Notorious B.I.G., Timbaland, Tribeca, Ty-Ty, U.S., United States, Vocals, World Trade Center, WTC

Yeah

[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
Yeah I’m out that Brooklyn, now I’m down in TriBeCa
Right next to Deniro, but I’ll be hood forever
I’m the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicano’s
Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald’s
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State St.
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons with them Pastry’s
Cruisin’ down 8th St., off white Lexus
Drivin’ so slow, but BK is from Texas
Me, I’m out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Say what’s up to Ty-Ty, still sippin’ mai tai’s
Sittin’ courtside, Knicks & Nets give me high five
Nigga I be Spike’d out, I could trip a referee
Tell by my attitude that I’m most definitely from….

Blue Lines Blog – #PhotoADayAug – Day 24 – Path (Train) New York

Tags

#PhotoADayAug, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Day 24, Fat Mum Slim, Instagram, Key Yemaya Walker, New Jersey, New York, Path, Path Train, Train, World Trade Center, WTC

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Cover Sundays – Joi Gilliam as HotHeavy&Bad – “If And When” – The Three Degrees Cover – Live at Pal’s Lounge (Atlanta)

Tags

2011, Atlanta, Battery Park, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Camera video, Cover, Cover Songs, Cover Sundays, Covers, Creative Loafing, Devon Lee, Dodge, Hot Heavy & Bad, HotHeavy&Bad, iPhone, Joi, Joi Gilliam, kblackout, live, Live Music, music, New York, Pal's Lounge, Photography, Re-launch, Tennessee, Undercover, walking, World Trade Center

A Cover Sunday post I had wanted to do for some while, as I tried to find a video, I remembered I had footage of her performing “The Three Degree’s “If And When” at Pal’s Lounge in Atlanta from 2011. A song that really struck while walking through the new World Trade Center construction in New York during July 2011.


The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

What I Learned Sundays – September 11th, 2011 – 10 Years Of (520) Sundays

Tags

1964, 3 A.M, 9/11, American Express, Art Garfunkel, Atlanta Hawks, Blue Lines, California, Chicago Bulls, CNN, CNN Center, EMS, FDNY, Key Yemaya Walker, Michael Jordan, New York, Paul Simon, Philips Arena, September 11th, Simon & Garfunkel, The Sound of Silence, Twin Towers, Washington Wizards, Wednesday Morning, World Trade Center, WTC

I would be remiss if I used the same line that everyone else does to state how the day started as innocently as every other day. How “normal,” the day began.

I was still in my “rookie” year with the Atlanta Hawks organization, headed into my first full season. The evening of September 10th, rumors began to circulate that legendary Chicago Bulls player, and now Washington Wizards General Manager, Michael Jordan, would be making his second return to the NBA. We stayed late in preparation of the next day, making sure we could take on the anticipated work.

The day did not begin as a normal day. Though a crisp, pristine morning, I knew that as I arrived early to our office in CNN Center, the day would be full. I prepared my lunch, in anticipation of not being able to take a break this morning, and was focused and settled to us having a big day.

We knew that at some point we would receive the announcement, which came later in a much more subdued in the subsequent weeks. As I exited the car, and finally sat at my desk, the slight unconfirmed report that a plane had crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. I will be honest, in the Atlanta area, pilot hobbyists have crashed often into houses, buildings and the such, therefore my first innocent thoughts were, “how was someone allowed to fly their personal plane through Manhattan.” Ryan Cameron on Atlanta’s Hot 97 returned to the music. My mind was boggled briefly, as more orders for season ticket began to pile up, and quickly I returned to my job at hand.

New To You Music Sundays – Live – “Overcome”

Tags

9/11, FDNY, live, Overcome, September, September 11th, Twin Towers, World Trade Center

One of my favorite songs, because it rings with me.  Though a song that was became a theme song of the dark days after 9/11/01.


The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Blue Lines Blog: What I Learned – The Last Three Months (Spawned By Convo)

Tags

Atlanta Braves, Battery Park, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Boardwalk 11, Boston, California, Conversation, Dodger Dog, Hollywood, Karaoke, LA Dodgers, Los Angeles, Lower East Side, Neice, New York, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Prince, Sam Adams, The Cupping Room, The Smith, Tribeca, What I Learned, World Trade Center

So she sits and asks me, “See, you could have had that camera you wanted.”

And I sat back, and quickly pondered a thought that I had already asked and instantly answered. These last three months, less one item that cannot be mentioned, have been exceedingly eye-opening, amazing, and a learning experience. A cursory/limited breakdown:

-I got to say/ask/do something I never said/did, but had always wanted to, and to get an answer.
-Meet my new niece!!!
-Meet my new niece!!!
-Meet my new niece!!!
-I have one of the GREATEST cousins!!!
-Get some character development and city/site information to bolster/delete portions of my manuscript Blue Lines.
-See friends, some of which I had not SEEN since 1995, even surprise friends. Damn that actually applies to a lot now that I think about it.
-Go to the Sam Adams brewery.
-Meet some really new cool people in various places that have become friends…me likey!!!
-See my Atlanta Braves on the road for the first time.
-Go back to Dodger Stadium. Getting a veggie Dodger Dog…lmao.
-Troop New York solo…I’ve never done that. Tribeca, Lower East Side, back to the World Trade.
-Go to Fenway, it would be higher in the list if I had actually gone to a game.
-See my Aunt and Uncle.
-See Prince (again), always primo!!!
-Experience Boston (some).
-Tour Boston.
-Karaoke across the country.
-New restaurants and foods, especially The Smith!!!
-A quick peek into Wine Country.
-Road trippin’.
-Off, On, Off, On…lol.
-All the writing that I’ve done, some based on these experiences.

Therefore, just touching on those brief experiences, and words do not match the emotion, feelings, joy, happiness, sadness expressed during this less than 3 month journey. Like almost all experiences I’ve had, both good and bad, I would not trade them. It’s been a wild and crazy ride, and I’m looking for more…and the publishing of Blue Lines. I can live without the camera and iPad.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Shell Toe Thursdays – Worn White x Black in front of Winter Garden from iPad

Tags

adidas, Adidas Superstar, Blue Lines, iPad, Key Yemaya Walker, New York, Shell Toe Thursdays, Superstar Adidas, Winter Garden, World Trade Center, WTC

I think I creeped this girl out trying to sneak a shot.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Updated: What I Learned Sundays – Opportunities

Tags

Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Blue Print Cleanse, BPC, Brooklyn, Cuba, family, Friends, JFK, Karaoke, Key Yemaya Walker, Lower East Side, New York, Starbucks, The Cupping Room, The Smith, Va$htie, Vashtie Kola, World Trade Center

Before I start this post, I would love to thank those who stop by and read Blue Lines Blog, though my manuscript has been a labour of love, for many years, and I’m trying to stay focused in: 1) being ready to share it; 2) sharing some thought, pieces, and ideas that detail it, the process, me, and excerpts…you guys have, since this time last Sunday,helped me break previous highs in my blogs readership multiple days last week. Words cannot express how I felt, and further pushed me to provide content, as just the rush, and weight of the first big day (Sunday) last week, had me wanting to lay low for awhile. Thank you all very much, I hope to be able to continue to exceed your expectations. Thank you!!!

The young man sat back, and as he gazed into her eyes, he realized that the chasm of time did not diminish his feelings.

Hiding out as New York is pelted with rain, and I have no jacket yet, I ask what does this mean? It’s not specific to YOU or any particular person, but yet a whole. Over the last few months, and this year rather, I have been able to reconnect with a myriad of friends and family, meet new people, have new experiences, but nothing hit more closer to home than being in New York this weekend, and spending time with friends that I have not seen ranging from 15 to 4 years. Granted we had renewed the relationships via facebook, in some part, but there is a marked difference in person.

Whether it was being picked up at JFK, karaoke in the Lower East Side, having Saturday brunch, and my new favorite The Smith, a bond was not renewed, or reconnected, but rather refreshed, it’s as if yesterday we were in school, and today was a Saturday or Sunday days after. I noticed a certain love/brotherhood/care that not even this expanse of time could change. It also helps you realize that these relationships we had then, and those new now, are very important. And I do guess that’s what even keeps YOU and I doing something.

Being Stupid – “Snowed/Iced In” Movie List

Tags

Belly, Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis, Cop Out, Dakota Fanning, Denzel Washington, DMX, Man On A Wire, Man On Fire, Method Man, Nas, T-Boz, The Town, Tracy Morgan, Twin Towers, World Trade Center

During the “Snowed/Iced In” three days, at least I was able to do “some” cleaning and catch up on some music watching…I guess.
Cop Out
The Town
Man On A Wire (Doc the tightrope walk across the Twin Towers)
Belly
Man On Fire

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.